ÐÓ°Épro Greenhouse Handbook Story Reaches Over 500 News Outlets Nationwide
In April during the 2017 ÐÓ°Épro Wood Energy Conference, the Biomass Greenhouse Handbook was officially released to the public. A subsequent tour of biomass-heated greenhouses in Southeast Island School District (SISD) on Prince of Wales Island showcased some of the handbook’s featured installations, and more importantly showed that a little determination can lead to an amazing success story.
The success story of SISD and the new Biomass Greenhouse Handbook took on a life of its own with the help of Anchorage Associated Press journalist Rachel D’Oro. The news exceeded expectations of the biomass working group. ÐÓ°Épro Energy Authority’s Devany Plentovich noted that the story had reached over 523 individual news outlets nationwide.
D’Oro’s story told how a school district used a change in heating from expensive, imported diesel fuel to heating with locally available wood resources spurred the growth of a local aquaponics greenhouse industry, and ultimately the starting point of the handbook.
Michael Shephard of United States Forest Service in Anchorage says of the news attention, “It is not a surprise at all given that people embrace the idea of vibrant rural communities, childhood nutrition, enhanced educational opportunities, saving public money, and food/energy security. This was emblematic of this Associated Press story being picked up by over 500 news organizations across the country.â€
The Biomass Greenhouse Handbook was the result of a year of research into ÐÓ°Épro’s successful biomass-heated greenhouse installations. The handbook, commissioned by the ÐÓ°Épro Energy Authority and funded by the United States Forest Service and the State of ÐÓ°Épro, was produced by the Cold Climate Housing Research Center with project partners the ÐÓ°Épro, REAP, Grow Southeast, and the Southeast Island School District.
The Biomass Greenhouse Handbook can be found .
Coffman Cove Student stands with hydroponic lettuce during a tour of the SISD greenhouses. Photo by A. Byrd/ACEP.